I just purchased a Porter-Cable left-blade 743K and now I keep thinking I might take it back and now I keep thinking I’m going to keep it. The problem lies here: I was thinking I wanted to get the six inch SawBoss (it’s cute, light, high rpm, and performs just fine for most construction tasks) but then I thought I should just go ahead and get the regular ol’ 7 1/4″ instead. I am right-handed and like to see my cuts when free-handing so left-blade makes sense, right? Anyhow, as I was looking through the manual I discovered that using the saw as I do is supposedly very dangerous and I thought: maybe I should have gotten the blade-right and just get used to it. Then I thought: worm-drives are pretty much only blade-left and the Skil 77 is very popular among carpenters. Carpenters can’t possibly all be left-handed so there must be a number of others out there in the world who, according to the instructions, behave without their best interests in mind. So, I should keep the blade-left model because that’s what I’m used to or I should trade it in for the blade-right model because I’m right-handed and the instructions say I’d be safer. So, the question is: does it really make much of a difference safety-wise or am I just being ridiculously anxious?
stick.
Replies
i've used your saw for almost two years now.... liked it right from the start..
nice & smooth, good set-up.... wether i pick up a right or a left, it doesn't seem to make much difference... i don't understand why one would be less safe or more safe than the other ..
i have defintely developed a preference for the lefty... but sometimes i'll use the right hand for a special situation.. nice to know i've got both...
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Why would the instuctions advise that this saw would be unsafe?
I have one because it's the only saw that makes sense [to right handers]. You can see what you're cutting but it has the light weight and simplicity of the sidewinder. The only possible thing to watch out for is when you're cutting of the end of a board, the weight of the saw is resting on the piece that is going to be cut off. Sort of like Ernie Kovaks, the poet, sitting on the limb he's sawing off.
-Peter
Lots of safety info from manufacturers is a product liability CYA. My Woodmizer sawmill has a caution in blade changing instructions: Make sure blade has come to a complete stop and engine is shut off before removing blade. Duh.
I also have your PC saw, which I like. I did grind a slight bevel on the front of the foot so it would ride over slight obstructions. (The foot on my 77s are turned up slightly for that reason).
Eventually, the sticker on all tools will say "Do not use this tool!" Or, "Put the tool down and slowly back away!" Bear
If hammers weren`t so damned dangerous, I`d say you "hit the nail on the head"!
Ever read the warnings on your iron? "Remove clothing before ironing"! I #### thee not!J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
I have this saw and I love it. I am a left handed with a pencil and and right handed with hand tools. I like the saw because of its high amperage.....lots of balls.
I have a feeling the saw is mistakenly billed as a saw that you can see what you are cutting. This is because when you hold the left-model correctly, you are still looking over the saw to see the blade.
When I use the saw, I grab the handle/ trigger with my left and pull the guard forward and hold the horn with my right. Switching hands is very awkward due to the fact holding the guard and horn with one's left is not really comfortable or safe.
I give this tool extra respect. Its a monster.
Quit worrying about it and just use it.
It's a good thing you got a "circular" saw because your mind keeps going round and round on these issues. LOL
Well,
Thanks for the feedback, y'all. I guess even though none of you said so the fact of the matter is I'm just suffering from the "I just paid $146 for something that's going to last me a fairly long time...I sure hope I made the right choice." jitters. I guess I shouldn't worry about it too much. I know how to use a saw and I really like my fingers. Everything will turn out just fine.
Cheers.
s.
I use a Skil 77 (blade left) and a Milwaukee tilt-loc (blade right). I have absolutey no trouble switching off between saws. I do find the blade left a bit easier to keep on line. Remember this though: say if you are cutting off the ends of studs, joists, etc. in a blade left saw, the bulk of the weight will be on the cut off piece, and vice versa on a blade right saw. So for stability on end cuts it seems the blade right is better. Another thing. Alot of wood, etc. has been cut with both types and it really comes down to user preference.
I have a PC 'lefty' and a Dewalt 'righty' and have no problem using either one. The Dewalt I bought from a contractor that was on his way home to Omaha and needed gas money. I gave him 30 bucks. I don't know if he made it..
You over-paid for the Default
TLayers
Onions
Have
Layers,
Carpenters
Have
Layers